Rishi Narain Singh obtained BSc (1962), MSc (1964) and PhD, all from Banaras Hindu University. He joined the newly established National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad in 1964 and largely remained there. Between 1970 and 73, he was postdoctoral Fellow at Dalhousie University, Halifax and Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's. He was Scientist-in-Charge, CSIR Centre for Mathematical Modeling and Computer Simulation (CMMACS) (1996-99); Director, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur (1999-2003); CSIR Emeritus Scientist (2005 -2010), INSA Senior Scientist (2010-2015)and Associate Professor, Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) (briefly in 1989). He is Visiting Professor, IIT Gandhinagar, Gandhinagar Gujarat  since December 2015.

Academic and Research Achievements: RN Singh pioneered modeling studies on the evolution of geophysical and environmental fields associated with Indian region. He constructed thermomechanical structure and evolution of the Indian continental and oceanic lithosphere. He used for the first time rheological laws of rock forming minerals to construct rheological profiles of the Indian continental lithosphere. He developed models of various geological events, such as formation of Cudappah sedimentary basin, southern high grade granulite terrains, structure and evolution of mid-ocean ridges and fracture zones, Afanasy Nikitin seamount and intense deformation zone in the Indian Ocean. He also constructed models of various generic processes involved in lithospheric evolution and ground water recharge. During 1996-99, he focused researches in CMMACS in broad areas of lithospheric modeling using GPS, coupled ocean atmospheric modeling, dynamical systems theory and industrial fluid mechanics. At NEERI, he developed several areas of environmental modeling, specifically in bioremediation, air quality modeling and environmental genomics. He mentored nine PhD students and authored over 145 research articles and a book.

Other Contributions: Dr Singh was involved in setting up CMMACS and its development as centre of excellence. As Director, NEERI, he transformed NEERI into frontline research institute connecting environmental genomics and molecular information and computations. He served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Earth System Sciences of Indian Academy of Sciences and Proceedings of the Indian National Science Academy (Physical Sciences). He was also INSA Council Member (2000-02).

Awards and Honours: Dr Singh was conferred the SS Bhatnagar Prize (1985), UGC National Lecturership (1987), IGU Decennial Medal (2003), National Award in Geoscience and Technology, 2014 ( Ministr of Earthscience),  and Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Lectureships of Indian Science Congress. He has been President, Indian Association of Environmental Management; and Vice President of Indian Geophysical Union. He was elected Fellow of the Indian Academy of Science Bangalore, Indian Geophysical Union, Association of Exploration Geophysicists, and Maharashtra Academy of Sciences.